CHAPTER XIV.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 272, 13 June 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XIV.

AN A\VK\V\Rf> PUEDICAMIAT, Tiihv returned to town on Sunday — the day before Mrs Langley'a interview with Mr Turner. They were walking leisurely along Main -street in fchf j afternoon enjoying tho restful stillness that belongs to the Sabbath, when they saw coming' toward? them two polieemeu, loading between them a young fellow, well dressed and looking like a gentleman. He was struggling violently at intervals, then he would walk along dejectedly. '1 wonder what has happened,' said A.stley. 'Do you see, Escombe ?' ' Yes, I wonder what it is ; he looks like a good one,' replied JUscombe. ' 1 think 1 know these bobbies. I will a&k.' 'AVhat'h wrong, Atkins? 'he asked, addressing one of the gentlemen in blue. ' Drunk,' *aid that worthy, shortly. ' Impossible P said Astley. ' Why, he is as sober as 1 am.' ' Well, fcir,' said tho policeman, ' I don't know a^ you're drunk, that's none o' my business, but this young spark '11 'aye to go along of vi;. ' 'But, policeman,' said Astley, who was grieved to sec the sight—a young fellow, evidently a gentleman, being disgraced in this way--' what has he done ?' 1 'E's drunk/ said the man in blue.

4 He's not drunk,' paid Astley, who was getting excited, ' and if you lock him up, I will appear as a witness in the morning, in his behalf.' ' Well, sir, of course you can do as you plea&e about that ; I ain't gofc nothing to do with it. Me and my mate must do our dooty.' ' Bab I'll bail him out,' said Astley. ' How much ' ♦ Well, sir, you see,' said the policeman, ' 1 ain't got no say about it, but if you like to follow us down to the station, 1 will see what T can do, but I don't think you will go no bail to-day.' ' I beg your pardon, '.'aid Astley, addressing the unhappy prisoner, who had stood still during this parle3 r , alfceruatelyglancing gratefully into Astley's eyes and dropping nis own to the ground, looking ashamed and miserable, 'but l am so sorry to see you in this position. You will really be doing me a great favour if you will ullow mo to accompany you and sec what f can do.' 'Thank you,' said f.ho .stranger with a. sigh. 'Then you will allow me?' said Astley. 'And you will nob think me curious or meddlesome ?' ' Indeed, no,' said the poor fellow ; ' J am very thankful, but I cannot express now what I feel.' 'Then I will follow jon slowly— come, E&coiubc,' said vue i»ood-n?ilured young friend. They followed the unfortunate young follow and his bod) -guard to the police station, entering that establishment almost immediately af«,ur them. There was only one person there— a sergeant, who when A&tle>, hacked up by I'i-combc, hadoriered bail, declined tointeiforo in the matter, lie said it was Sunday, and it was not usual to tiausaet business on that das. Our friends pleaded hard, but in vain, so, after bidding the young stranger ' cheer up,' they loft, promising to .bee him in the morning and give their vet.-ion of the case to the presiding magistrate. In the morning they wuic at the R.M. Court in good time. Two or thiec charges were deposed of, and then the young sli augur, looking ruthor shame-faced, but otherwise calm and collected, was brought forward and placed in the dock. The charge was in sub&tance that he was drunk and making a disturbance inan hotel in street and the landlord had given him in charge, wheioupon he had become \ery violent and had assaulted the constable*. The accused being asked what he had to say for himself, replied that he Avas not guilty, and that if His Worship would permit him, he would explain matter*. Pel-minion being granted, he said, in a clear, frank \oice that carried truth in ifc-s ring : ' I was in the Hotel on Sunday, whore I dined. After dinner T went to sleep on the sofa. On waking 1 found that J had been lobbed of my pocket-book, which contained nut only notes and coin, bub \al uable papeis- alto. lat once went to the landloul aiui told him. He said I must be mistaken. I said I wa*s not, and that 1 should insist upon his making inquiries into the matter. He said he should not bother about it, and that I had better keep a civil tongue my head or he would put me out, I said he dared not tr^ , whereupon he came through the bar door and put hit. hand on my collar. I shook him off; he again attempted to put me out, when I floored him. He left me then, and I remained standing in the passage. Presently lie came back and ■saiil he was &orry for what he had done, and if I would wait a little while I might hear something of the matter. I waited, and in about a quarter-of-an-hour two policemen entered and held a whispered conversation with the landlord. A minute or so alter 1 wa» grappled by those two men '-— here he pointed to the two policemen— 'l resisted, and in the natural course of events they found themselves rolling on the ground.' ' Both at once ':' asked His Worship, with a smile. 4 Both at once," replied the stranger. l Vou must be very strong,' said Hw j sYoi>bip, mho rather enjoyed the affair, j 'it was not po much strength, 1 replied the young fellow, 'as knack, or what a twiiner would call 'icience. ' ' ' Ha\e you been trained in the manly art of fighting?" ! ' No, your worship, but in the manly art [of self-defence,' said the young British Hon. •Will \ou go un, please. Mr— oh, Mr Chetwyn '/' ' I June little moit- to say, your Worship. J was seemed and dragged oil uotens rolen* through the streets; 1 tried hard to get away, but was unsuccessful." • You should have gone quietly/ paid hi.s Worship, looking rather uncomfortable, but still inclined to smile ; ' have jou anything more to say V* *"* 'T have two witness your worship.' l Lefc them be rnlleil— their names, please?' •Mr Astley Berwick and .Mi Herbert Kscombe. % At the sound of these nameo there was a mm mm- and stir amono the Court lounsrers. ' Silence !' 'Astley Berwick '" was cried. ' \ our name?' asked Hi*; Worship, when Astley stood before him. ' Astley Berwick.' 'State what you Inn c to *i\\, Mr Ber wick, if you please, as briefly as'pofcsible.' Astley then gave an account of his having met the accused in custody. 'He was de cidedly ?ober,' he said. Escombe corrobox-ated this evidence. The constables were called ; one— noC Atkins — said : ' He was as drunk as over I pee anybody. Smell 'im ! you could smell 'im a mile off." ' Whai, do you call being drunk V asked j the magistrate. | » Well, your worship, I calls a man drunk when 'c's J ad a glass o' beer, at least) 'c ain't sober.' *Oh J indeed, said His Worship. ' I shall not hear any more evidence. The accused is discharged— and, constable, a word with you. Learn to judge your fellow-creatures by a sounder standard ; yours won't do.' The Court laughed, and that, constable felt the keenness of the magistrate's reprimand. Abtley and E.scomble left the Court with Chetwyn and asked him to accompany them to their hotel, but he excused himself, thanking them and saying that ho had a mother and sister to whom he must; first go.

'Tliib was actually said in Court by a worthy member of the New Zealand Police Force. (To be. Continued.)

•'full' 1 remarks that Mr Orniond has. conic to the rescue of the Ministry, and adds: "He's often played Newfoundland dog before, and he's going to do it again. " Councillor Garratt bays that " you might as well look for the grace of God in the flielands of Scotland as for a blade of gvaav. in the Waikomiti Cemetery." What says the E urns Club to this? " General Boulnnger >vill shortly pay u isifc to London.